Between You and the Sky

Roofing options abound. Choose what best suits your location,
budget, and house style.

After more than 30 years, I've nailed on so many shingle roofs I
smell cedar in my sleep. Wood's a traditional favorite, but good
alternatives exist.

Where wood works bestArchitects and developers appreciate the look so identified
with beloved beach cottages. And under the right conditions, wood
roofs can provide 30 years of maintenance-free wear, plus they stay
more secure than most other products when big winds blow.
Disadvantages include cost (60 to 100 percent more than asphalt)
and the expertise required to nail them properly. Theoretically,
cedar shingles work everywhere, even in subtropical Florida where
the sun may curl them like potato chips. But don't risk this choice
if your pitch isn't steep enugh to prevent water from collecting
and seeping. And don't use it in a region where it isn't
commonplace or your home may become a learning lab for aspiring
shinglers.

The asphalt choiceCheaper and easier to install, asphalt shingles come in
sheets scored to resemble three side-by-side shingles. They're
nailed so 10 inches of each sheet overlap the sheet
below―just like cedar shingles, which overlap about 13
inches. Ideally, heat buildup helps the asphalt layers adhere to
each other and operate as one big shingle. You'll find endless
color and style options, but make sure all your shingles are from
the same factory run. (There can be variations, even with the same
color code.) Production roofers can whip these roofs on fast, but
my crews take time to storm-nail the shingle sections. That means
using six nails instead of the usual four for each 3-foot section.
I've seen asphalt shingles that weren't storm-nailed blow off like
a deck of cards.

The metal option.If installed correctly, metal roofs should outlast most
everything else. But the roofer needs to know a thing or two about
metal fabrication as well as carpentry. And be prepared to spend;
materials alone may equal the cost of a completely installed wood
roof. However, it's a good choice for a flat or nearly flat roof
because pooling water is less likely to penetrate the metal. And if
you're building in the hottest zones of the country, metal's
reflective properties may save you enough in utilities to justify
the extra outlay.